Friendly Gray Whale Plays With Dana Point Whale Watchers

DANA POINT, CA—Gray whale sightings have surged in recent months, but no encounter has been so exciting as one experienced by whale watchers this week, according to Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari.

"It was an exciting charter on Monday," Capt. Dave Anderson told Patch of the encounter.

Three friends, riders of the zodiac Fast Cat who set out on a private charter, got a close look and feel of the whale. During their tour, the gray whale paused and allowed the three women to run their hands along its face and back. Heather Smith, with friends Shaun and Becky (no last names given), chartered a private tour to see gray whales in person. This encounter turned into one they will never forget.

"It was right at the end of the trip, when a gray whale decided to come up to the boat and touch these girls," Capt. Dave Anderson told Patch. "They got an amazing video of the whale visiting them. It wouldn't leave, and we couldn't go anywhere while it was below the vessel. So, we just hung out."

Smith expressed her joy at the encounter, which lasted over an hour, saying, "it was like an out of body experience. I'll remember the rest of my life!"

This unusual behavior, known as "mugging," is reserved for mating and birthing lagoons of Mexico, Anderson said. During that time, gray whales will come to boats specifically to interact with people and allow their calves to touch and be touched, he said.

Riders on the Manute'a sailboat also got an up-close visit from the mighty gray whale, both above and below deck.

"It stayed, and I couldn't go anywhere. It was just under the catamaran," Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari Captain went below deck to see the creature from the underwater viewing pods.

Amazing underwater views of the leviathan made this a magical experience for everyone on board.

"The whale swam directly underneath and even touched them," they said.

The whale barrel-rolled underneath, lazily swimming beneath the boat, and showing no signs of aggression, or anything other than pure interest in the whale watchers.

She looked directly into the camera and "waved," according to the captain.

So, who is watching who?

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Learn more about gray whales and the Whale Watching Capital of the World.